This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the

original cable is not available.

--------------------------------------------
VATICAN ACKNOWLEDGES SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS
-------------------------------------------- 

¶5.   (SBU) IN A RARE STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING FAULT, VATICAN
SPOKESMAN JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS SAID MARCH 20 THAT THERE WAS
A PROBLEM OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF NUNS BY PRIESTS IN SOME
MISSIONARY TERRITORIES. HE SAID THE VATICAN WAS WORKING TO
CORRECT THE SITUATION. THE STATEMENT WAS IN RESPONSE TO A
MARCH 16 ARTICLE IN U.S. CATHOLIC WEEKLY, NATIONAL CATHOLIC
REPORTER THAT CITED FOUR REPORTS BY SENIOR MEMBERS OF
WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS ORDERS ASSERTING THAT SEXUAL ABUSE OF NUNS
BY PRIESTS, INCLUDING RAPE, WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, 

                       UNCLASSIFIED 

PAGE 05        VATICA  01615  01 OF 02  231320Z 

                       UNCLASSIFIED 

                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO7054 

PAGE 01        VATICA  01615  02 OF 02  231320Z
ACTION EUR-00 

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    ACQ-00   CA-02    CIAE-00  USNW-00
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  DS-00    EAP-00   FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     VCE-00   M-00
      AC-01    NEA-00   NSAE-00  OCS-03   OES-01   OIC-02   PA-00
      PM-00    ACE-00   P-00     SCT-00   SP-00    IRM-00   SSO-00
      SS-00    TEST-00  T-00     USIE-00  R-00     SNIS-00  NISC-00
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /012W
                  ------------------D63E4F  231330Z /38
R 231328Z MAR 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
NSC WASHDC 

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 001615 

SIPDIS 

SENSITIVE 

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE), EUR/SE, EAP/K, NEA/IAI, 

EUR/PD/PA, AF/E, AF/W, AF/S, DRL/IRF 

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 48/01
                       UNCLASSIFIED 

PAGE 02        VATICA  01615  02 OF 02  231320Z 

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI IS GR KN KS PHUM SOCI IS GR KN KS VT MEPP VTPREL MEPP
SUBJECT: VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL" 

ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA. ONE OF THE AUTHORS TOLD A VATICAN CITY
NEWS AGENCY THAT SHE WAS VERY PLEASED THE VATICAN HAD ISSUED
ITS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. (COMMENT: THE VATICAN HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY SENSITIZED TO INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY
CLERGY, PARTICULARLY IN COUNTRIES LIKE THE US, AUSTRALIA AND
ENGLAND. WE EXPECT THE REPORTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS IN
MISSIONARY TERRITORIES TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND DEALT WITH
PROFESSIONALLY. END COMMENT). MERANTE

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